# Is President Trump suddenly Getting Worse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 12, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444 "2018-01-12T04:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/241 "2018-01-17T23:14:06Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Possibly so, though had the physical resulted in him being tagged with the term, it would have undoubtedly been mentioned to death by the press and his critics. True, very true. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/242 "2018-01-17T23:15:08Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Over a doctor who has actually examined the patient? The second, obviously. > > The facility with which the SDMB flip-flops on its commitment to facts is endlessly entertaining. > > Regards, > Shodan Glass houses…but then, I guess it’s hard to be wrong if you never provide any facts. One question. Answer Yes or No. Don’t beg off, or try to change the subject. [https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder](https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder) > [@](#): > > Narcissistic personality disorder is indicated by five or more of the following symptoms: > > Exaggerates own importance > > Is preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence or ideal romance > > Believes he or she is special and can only be understood by other special people or institutions > > Requires constant attention and admiration from others > > Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment > > Takes advantage of others to reach his or her own goals > > Disregards the feelings of others, lacks empathy > > Is often envious of others or believes other people are envious of him or her > > Shows arrogant behaviors and attitudes According to this definition, is Trump a narcissist? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/243 "2018-01-17T23:23:49Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Glass houses…but then, I guess it’s hard to be wrong if you never provide any facts. > > One question. Answer Yes or No. Don’t beg off, or try to change the subject. > > [https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder](https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder) > > According to this definition, is Trump a narcissist? I’ll answer for Shodan, 'cause he’s busy right now. “Yes.” Regards, Shodan /TL/ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/244 "2018-01-17T23:27:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’ll answer for Shodan, 'cause he’s busy right now. > > “Yes.” > > Regards, > Shodan > /TL/ LOL. I give the Big Orange Blowhard a perfect score, 9 out of 9. And he didn’t even have to study for it. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/245 "2018-01-17T23:30:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > I give the Big Orange Blowhard a perfect score, 9 out of 9. That’s definitely a test he could pass with an impressively-perfect score. No cheating required! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/246 "2018-01-17T23:33:44Z")
Bah…ninja’ed in the edit… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/247 "2018-01-17T23:44:36Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Not that it’s going to happen, but I am a bit curious: which “more reliable” test would you recommend? Thank you for your faith in my judgment, but I’d delegate that decision to a specialist (note: a GP is not a specialist). ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/248 "2018-01-17T23:48:24Z")
As I’ve said before, I’ve changed my tune on Trump and no longer think well of him as a person and I didn’t vote for him for president. That said, I also have a hard time abiding the ridiculous, over the top reactions, dishonesty and nitpicking that goes on around here in regard to him. The truth is the truth even when it applies to reprehensible people. So with that it mind I’ll state my view on the following: Narcissistic personality disorder is indicated by five or more of the following symptoms: [Exaggerates own importance] The guy is the president of the United States. How much more important can you get? [Is preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence or ideal romance] Fantasies? Looks to me that he was long ago blessed with or achieved all of these, save maybe ideal romance, which I’ve never gotten the impression he even desires. [Believes he or she is special and can only be understood by other special people or institutions] Possibly. [Requires constant attention and admiration from others] Don’t know about ‘requires’ but he definitely revels in it. [Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment] Haven’t seen much evidence of this. On the other hand he gets so much unfavorable treatment that my guess is he’d happily settle for neutral treatment. [Takes advantage of others to reach his or her own goals] Defnintely. [Disregards the feelings of others, lacks empathy] Definitely [Is often envious of others or believes other people are envious of him or her] Many people _are_ clearly envious of him. I don’t know that being aware of that fact says anything about him at all. [Shows arrogant behaviors and attitudes] Yep. So he get 3 definites and a couple of maybes. So, borderline narcissistic maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/249 "2018-01-18T00:56:12Z")
> [@](#): > > [Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment] You think it’s realistic of him to expect people to believe him over their own eyes, as he did in at least two obvious cases (his inaugural crowd size and his personal dimensions)? ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/250 "2018-01-18T01:17:14Z")
[Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment] Remember, you can’t spell “presumptuous” without “Trump”. > [@Washington Post](#): > > There was then-Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani (R) and former mayor David Dinkins (D). TV stars Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford, who were major donors. And there was a seat saved for Steven Fisher, a developer who had given generously to build the nursery. > > Then, all of a sudden, there was Donald Trump. > > “Nobody knew he was coming,” said Abigail Disney, another donor sitting on the dais. “There’s this kind of ruckus at the door, and I don’t know what was going on, and in comes Donald Trump. [He] just gets up on the podium and sits down.” > > Trump was not a major donor. He was not a donor, period. He’d never given a dollar to the nursery or the Association to Benefit Children, according to Gretchen Buchenholz, the charity’s executive director then and now. This is from a 1996 ribbon cutting for a school for children suffering from AIDS. Trump stole a seat from an actual donor and stood on stage accepting the applause and adoration of the crowd just because he’s Donald Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/251 "2018-01-18T01:18:43Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > As I’ve said before, I’ve changed my tune on Trump and no longer think well of him as a person and I didn’t vote for him for president. > > That said, I also have a hard time abiding the ridiculous, over the top reactions, dishonesty and nitpicking that goes on around here in regard to him. The truth is the truth even when it applies to reprehensible people. So with that it mind I’ll state my view on the following: > > Narcissistic personality disorder is indicated by five or more of the following symptoms: > > [Exaggerates own importance] The guy is the president of the United States. How much more important can you get? Biggest inauguration crowd ever. ‘John Baron’ talking up his sexual supremacy to the NY media. Greatest president in history. Check. > [@](#): > > [Is preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence or ideal romance] Fantasies? Looks to me that he was long ago blessed with or achieved all of these, save maybe ideal romance, which I’ve never gotten the impression he even desires. Stable genius. Check. > [@](#): > > [Believes he or she is special and can only be understood by other special people or institutions] Possibly. See above. Check. > [@](#): > > [Requires constant attention and admiration from others] Don’t know about ‘requires’ but he definitely revels in it. That sickening cabinet meeting. Every leader who knows he has to start with how wonderful Trump is or he won’t listen to anything. Check. > [@](#): > > [Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment] Haven’t seen much evidence of this. On the other hand he gets so much unfavorable treatment that my guess is he’d happily settle for neutral treatment. Fake news and how it’s being so unfair to him. Obama ‘tappping’ him. The ‘witch hunt.’ Check. > [@](#): > > [Takes advantage of others to reach his or her own goals] Defnintely. > > [Disregards the feelings of others, lacks empathy] Definitely > > [Is often envious of others or believes other people are envious of him or her] Many people _are_ clearly envious of him. I don’t know that being aware of that fact says anything about him at all. Every foreign strongman. Obama’s popularity. Oh my freaking Og Putin. Check. > [@](#): > > [Shows arrogant behaviors and attitudes] Yep. > > So he get 3 definites and a couple of maybes. So, borderline narcissistic maybe? I count 9. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/252 "2018-01-18T01:25:18Z")
Bah again. Too many quotes. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/253 "2018-01-18T03:07:24Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a publically available test. Anyone with an internet connection can download it. Someone who was suffering from cognitive impairment but didn’t want anyone to know could easily get a copy of the test, practice taking it, then score 30 out of 30 regardless of their cognitive impairment. > > With a few days practice, even someone with significant decline could memorize “lion, rhino, camel”. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > So the Prez finds a short cognitive test online where both the questions and the answers are easily found, requests that this particular test be given to him, and he gets a perfect score! > :rolleyes: X infinity, folks. Frankly, if you are far enough gone to flunk the Montreal test, you very well may lack the short term memory necessary to cram for it. That said, if Trump suffers a stroke, administering the MCA again might provide a diplomatic method of persuading him to resign or persuading others to invoke the 25th. I’d still prefer -for any President- a range of tests which could establish a sturdier baseline. ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/254 "2018-01-18T03:22:17Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Oh Christ, the man who nearly single handedly passed the Civil Rights Act was a racist? Go ahead, pull my other leg. Ignorance? To describe LBJ? Please. Perpetual lying? Got any examples? Seriously? How much time do you have? LBJ loved to use the N-word and used to refer to the Civil Rights Act of 1957, as "the N **r Bill" in more than one private conversation with Senate colleagues. He said after appointing African-American judge Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court, “Son, when I appoint a n** r to the court, I want everyone to know he’s a n\*\*\*\*r.” Per historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, LBJ said: > [@](#): > > These Negroes, they’re getting pretty uppity these days and that’s a problem for us since they’ve got something now they never had before, the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we’ve got to do something about this, we’ve got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference. For if we don’t move at all, then their allies will line up against us and there’ll be no way of stopping them, we’ll lose the filibuster and there’ll be no way of putting a brake on all sorts of wild legislation. It’ll be Reconstruction all over again. His biographer Robert Caro wrote that when a black chauffeur told LBJ that he preferred to be called by his name rather than “boy” or “n\*\*\*\*r,” LBJ replied: > [@](#): > > As long as you are black, and you’re gonna be black till the day you die, no one’s gonna call you by your goddamn name. So no matter what you are called, nigger, you just let it roll off your back like water, and you’ll make it. Just pretend you’re a goddamn piece of furniture. Per Ronald MacMillan, a former Air Force One steward, said LBJ said the now-infamous quote while talking on Air Force One with two governors: > [@](#): > > “I’ll have them niggers voting Democratic for two hundred years.” Did he support the Civil Rights Bill out of political opportunism? Yes. Was he a racist? Undoubtedly. Ignorance: LBJ was politically canny, but he was an ignorant crude backwoods fuck. He liked to take a dump on the toilet while forcing his subordinates to listen to his demands, pee in his office sink in the presence of young women secretaries while flinging his dong around and telling them what a workout it got the previous night. He liked to hold his pet dog up by its ears for photographs for the press and laugh while the dog howled in pain, telling the press that it didn’t hurt a a dog to suspend it by its ears. (See: [http://www.history.com/s3static/video-thumbnails/AETN-History\_Prod/73/432/History\_Speeches\_1117\_Lyndon\_Johnson\_Lifts\_Dog\_Ears\_still\_624x352.jpg](http://www.history.com/s3static/video-thumbnails/AETN-History_Prod/73/432/History_Speeches_1117_Lyndon_Johnson_Lifts_Dog_Ears_still_624x352.jpg)) He grew up racist and pig-ignorant. He thought black people were particularly afraid of snakes (aren’t we all?) so as a young man he would put a captured snake in the trunk of his car and try to trick black gas station attendants into opening it up, a stunt he pulled repeatedly until he almost got beaten to death with a tire iron for his stupidity. He abused his devoted wife physically and emotionally, cheated on her non-stop, felt up other women while she was in the room. Yep, pig-ignorant. Perpetual Lying: As evidence, I offer you the Pentagon Papers. LBJ fucking lied like a motherfucking rug to the American people about the failure of the U.S. policy in Vietnam. Be serious. ---
**Author:** ![Arizona\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Arizona\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arizona_Mike)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/255 "2018-01-18T03:35:41Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You can’t run for president without having a large ego, so I think they’re pretty much all egomanics. But I don’t see a lot of narcissism until Donald came along. Again, seriously? > [@](#): > > April 2009: Obama gives Queen Elizabeth an iPod: > > White visiting the Queen, Obama gave her an iPod, prompting raised eyebrows from the British Press. The MP3 player came pre-loaded with photos from President Obama’s inauguration and audio files of the president’s speech as a senator to the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his 2009 inauguration address. > > The queen reportedly already had an iPod. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/256 "2018-01-18T04:14:17Z")
> **[President Trump has common form of heart disease | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/17/health/trump-heart-disease-gupta/index.html)** > > Despite assurances from the president’s doctor of his excellent health, Trump may face a moderate risk of having a heart attack in the next three to five years. FWIW, CNN says that Tmurp underwent a coronary calcium CT scan that indicated he does have “moderate” heart disease. Also, his LDL has increased despite taking rosuvastatin. > [@](#): > > His score is 133, and anything over 100 indicates plaque is present and that the patient has heart disease. According to Trump’s official medical records, in 2009 his coronary calcium score was 34. In 2013, it was 98. So maybe not quite as superhuman as he is trying to make himself out to be. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/257 "2018-01-18T04:54:07Z")
> [@Arizona\_Mike](#): > > Again, seriously? > > > [@](#): > > > > April 2009: Obama gives Queen Elizabeth an iPod: > > > > White visiting the Queen, Obama gave her an iPod, prompting raised eyebrows from the British Press. The MP3 player came pre-loaded with photos from President Obama’s inauguration and audio files of the president’s speech as a senator to the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his 2009 inauguration address. > > > > The queen reportedly already had an iPod. Do you seriously believe that that comes within a country mile of Trump’s self-aggrandizement? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/258 "2018-01-18T05:12:36Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Glass houses…but then, I guess it’s hard to be wrong if you never provide any facts. > > One question. Answer Yes or No. Don’t beg off, or try to change the subject. > > [https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder](https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder) > > According to this definition, is Trump a narcissist? That sounds alot like my 2 Siamese cats. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/259 "2018-01-18T05:16:16Z")
That iPod story is certainly a stretch. Heads of state routinely exchange gifts with one another, generally ones that represent their country. Apple is a national champion, so it makes sense to give it to the Queen. Since we’re here to fight ignorance, I will correct Arizona Mike’s oversight and report the sourcing of his commentary: it’s from the far right Washington Examiner. The Guardian didn’t think the gift was exceptional when it was given: > **[President Obama gives the Queen an iPod](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/02/barack-obama-presents-queen-ipod)** > > The Queen's official gift from the 44th American president boasts Broadway tunes and a songbook for The King and I. No word yet as to whether the playlist features Pass the Duchy or anything by, well, Queen The Sydney Morning Herald didn’t see anything amiss when it was given: > **[Barack Obama gives the Queen an iPod](https://www.smh.com.au/technology/barack-obama-gives-the-queen-an-ipod-20090402-gdtgd4.html)** Politico said, “So the new iPod could be an upgrade for the queen. So far the Ipod gift hasn’t resulted in the kind of “what was he thinking” response in the British press that came with the DVD gift.” > **[Did Obama's iPod gift make the cut?](https://www.politico.com/story/2009/04/did-obamas-ipod-gift-make-the-cut-020788)** > > An etiquette expert cringes at the queen's present. So far, the only news sites I could find with their panties in a bunch were US conservative ones. In short, pending additional information, I’d say that the characterization presented by Arizona Mike is misleading. To be fair, it does faithfully present the modern American conservative mentality, which is an addition to this discussion. Drawing such a parallel to Trump’s gaffes displays, IMHO, distorted perceptions and less than 100% quality judgment by modern conservative chroniclers. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/260 "2018-01-18T05:17:46Z")
> [@Arizona\_Mike](#): > > Again, seriously? > > > [@](#): > > > > The MP3 player came pre-loaded with photos from President Obama’s inauguration and audio files of the president’s speech as a senator to the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his 2009 inauguration address. Yeah, and John Denver visited the Chinese Premier and gave him a complete set of Denver’s music. What’s your point? If the Queen invited me for a visit, I’m not sure what I’d offer as a present. Anybody know if she already has a rice cooker? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444.md?page=14)